The California Lemon Law is designed to protect consumers who purchase new vehicles and certain used cars by ensuring they receive safe and reliable automobiles. The formal name of the law is the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, but it’s commonly referred to as the Lemon Law. In American slang, “lemon” is a term used to describe a defective product, especially when it comes to cars.

Under this law, if a vehicle experiences serious issues that remain unresolved after multiple repairs within the warranty period, consumers have the right to request a vehicle replacement or a refund from the manufacturer. The key criteria for this law include that the vehicle must still be under the original manufacturer’s warranty, it must have significant defects affecting its use, safety, or value, and the manufacturer must have had a reasonable opportunity to repair the vehicle. If these conditions are met, consumers can invoke the Lemon Law to seek a replacement vehicle, a full refund, or partial reimbursement, and they may also be eligible to recover attorney’s fees without incurring legal costs themselves.

The California Lemon Law came into effect in the 1970s, stemming from growing consumer dissatisfaction regarding significant quality issues associated with purchased vehicles and a lack of effective repairs or refunds. However, as the number of Lemon Law cases surged, a wave of strategic class-action lawsuits placed a heavy burden on the judicial system, often causing consumers to wait years before receiving any compensation.